Archive for the ‘Racing Festivals’ Category

Champion Hurdle hope

The 2014 Cheltenham Festival is looming large on the jumps racing world and with many race entrants entering the final stages of their preparation, the cards and markets are taking shape. The Festival will take place over four days from Tuesday 11th March until Friday 14th March with some of the jumps racing calendar’s premier events, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle, making up an exciting 27 race schedule.

 

Day One
The very first race of the festival is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Vautour shading favouritism at 8/1. Several entrants raced in the rearranged Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday 11th January, with favourite The Liquidator taking a hit in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting with a disappointing outing. The eventual winner, Royal Boy, ridden by jockey A.P. McCoy who recently passed 4,000 career wins, is now 12/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The second race of day one is the ever-popular Arkle Challenge Trophy, with Champagne Fever leading the market at 5/1, although third-favourite Felix Yonger has seen his price shorten recently and is now available at a best price 8/1.
The highlight of day one is the Champion Hurdle, and The New One (3/1), Hurricane Fly (10/3) and My Tent Or Yours (4/1) will battle it out for favouritism right until the off. Trainer Dessie Hughes’ Champion Hurdle hope Our Conor will be hoping to overcome niggling injuries to get back to his best and is currently available at 8/1 with Coral.
Day Two
Day two at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival is no doubt headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nicky Henderson’s superstar steeplechaser Sprinter Sacre is a heavy odds-on favourite for this year’s race, and will be looking to recover in time from being pulled-up in the Desert Orchid Chase on December 27th 2013 due to an irregular heartbeat.
Day Three
The third day will see Cue Card attempt to defend his crown in the Ryanair Chase, with last year’s winner currently a warm favourite at 5/2. Following this, the day’s feature race, the World Hurdle, will set the stage for the very best staying hurdlers to compete over three miles, and Big Buck’s, the winner of four of the last five World Hurdles, is favourite to win again, available at 5/2 ahead of a star-studded field.
Day Four
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of not only the fourth and final day, but of the entire 2014 Cheltenham Festival, and last year’s winner, Bobs Worth, is favourite to repeat his success. The Nicky Henderson trained 8-year-old is a 2/1 favourite, just shading Silviniaco Conti, who is available at 7/2.

Grand National Fever

 

The Grand National will soon be upon us. On the 6th april to be specific. The Aintree extravaganza will once again enthral the nation and make the headlines as well draw the attention of an estimated 500 million + people around the world. This prestigious event will be the talking point in countless homes and workplaces, just as it is every year.

With this being the one horse racing event that sets friends and family a chatter, and results in endless competitions and sweepstakes, it really does draw the eyes of the nation, and the front pages of the national newspapers. One aspect of the Grand National 2013 that especially appeals to potential punters is the fact that big priced winners really are quite commonplace. The 2012 winner Neptunes Collonges came in at 33/1, 2011 winner Ballabriggs was 14/1 and let’s not forget 2009’s Mom Mome at a staggering 100/1. It’s the roulette spin of racing events where everyone is in with a chance. Who knows what surprises the 2013 event holds. Time will tell.

Speaking of which, this time around the betting market would have us believe that ‘On His Own’ at 6/1 is the way to go. Though he’s closely followed by Seabass (8/1), Cappa Bleu (10/1) and Colbert Station (10/1). Other contenders include Sunnyhillboy, Chicago Grey and Imperial Commander. Let’s not forget though that this is the Grand National, so anything is possible. With odds ranging from 6/1 from 200/1 and 30 jumps in between, it’s anyone guess. Be sure to place a bet and tune in!

Cheltenham Festival Preview

Hi Horseracingtips.org.uk ,

Just wanted to let you know about what we’re up to for Cheltenham on Sunday

We’ve got the exclusive rights to livestream the official Cheltenham Festival preview from Cheltenham on Sunday 19.00! Our colleague Dean will be on the panel, giving tips and asking questions the public ask on twitter (using #askOLBG). It should be an excellent event so we’d love it if you felt the urge to shout about it and participate yourself!

The livestream will be here – (event over)

We will be giving and taking loads of valuable tips and insider insights on the night so it’s well worth watching!

Cheers
Jess

Cheltenham Gold Cup Heroes

National Hunt racing doesn’t get any better than the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. For excitement, anticipation and passion make sure you are part of the action with four days of outstanding racing from the 12th – 15th March.

Bring racing alive.

Friday 15th March sees the most prestigious of all National Hunt races – the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This race is open to horses five years and older contesting a distance of 3m 21/2f . Often referred to as the Blue Riband of jump-racing, it was inaugurated in 1924 when Red Splash led the way, trained by Fred Withington and ridden by Dick Rees. 

This race has been won by a number of outstanding horses, many becoming part of our rich racing heritage.

Only three horses have won this race aged five, all in the 1920 -30s. The most notable being a true racing legend Golden Miller. The oldest winning horses were Silver Fame (1951) & What A Myth (1969). Both were twelve years old. Since 1970, no horse has won aged over ten years. 

Easter Hero, trained by Jack Anthony, was the first horse to win the race in consecutive years (1929 – 30). However, this record was put in the shade by the outstanding talent of Golden Miller who – still to this day – is the most successful race horse having won five times 1932 – 1936. He may well have won in 1937 but for the race being abandoned due to the course flooding. Just for good measure, he won the Grand National in 1934. He was the only horse to have ever done this in the same year. A statue of Golden Miller stands tall near the parade ring at Cheltenham Racecourse. 

We had to wait until 1948 to see another inspirational horse who heralded the talents of trainer Vincent O’Brien. Remarkably Cottage Rake failed three different vet examinations before starting his jumping career. Owned by Frank Vickerman, this Irish horse won the Gold Cup three times in succession. This horse helped the Gold Cup become popular with Irish race fans.

In 1964 Arkle won his first of three races, trained by Tom Dreaper, and owned by the Duchess of Westminster. He became a racing legend. This Irish-bred horse was  said to gain his strength from drinking Guinness twice a day. He is the highest rated steeplechaser by Timeform (212).    

In 1970 we saw another supreme talent in the shape of L’Escgot. He went on to win the race the following year and often remembered for halting the winning run of Red Rum in the 1975 Grand National. 

Other favourites include Burrough Hill Lad (1984), Dawn Run, the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She was the only horse to complete the Champion Hurdle – Gold Cup double. And the only horse to complete the English, Irish & French Champion Hurdle treble. Another favourite was seen with Desert Orchid, the popular winning grey in 1989. Many still recall his bold-jumping style and iron will to beat the mud loving Yahoo in a race to the line.

In more recent times Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden Jim Culloty, proved victorious winning three consecutive races from 2002. He was one of the most loved horses in the history of horse racing in the UK. He matched the record of Arkle. He was never out of the first two in all his 22 starts or fell at a fence or hurdle. His career earning were over one million pounds.

Kauto Star was the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup in 2009 after being successful two years earlier. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, won the race in 2008 with Denman. 

Synchronised is the most recent winner when ridden by Tony McCoy, in the familiar racing silks of J.P. McManus. 

Long Run won the race in 2011 and makes a return to this year’s 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is one of the major fancies alongside rivals such as Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs, Silviniaco Conti & First Lieutenant.
What’s your fancy for the big race? 

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